Extended techniques for flute
I recently rediscovered Ghost Harmonics. They are truly amazing. In this song I use them to work on the color of the sound. Enjoy the bamboo-like sound and try not to force the sound. Play with a relaxed embouchure.
If I were a blackbird I would sing with as many colors as possible. This is a simple melody. Adding the key clicks is a good coordination exercise. It should sound like two flutes are playing. Let the melody sing and make the key clicks very rhythmic.
I find working with quarter tones very interesting because it takes a fresh look at the whole finger system that we are used to. It makes the mind more flexible. And besides that quarter notes are also good for practicing intonation.
This cheerful Christmas song is even more fun with pitch bending. Try to lower the A until you hear the G sharp. A very good exercise for flexibility and intonation.
Harmonics are good for practicing support and flexibility. That’s why your sound gets bigger. Practice this song first with the regular notes, then with the harmonics, and the third time with the regular notes again. Compare the first and third time and notice the difference in sound.
This song is about a wolf, a fox and a hare. They are dancing. This arrangement is for four flutes or three flutes and a bass flute. Let the wolf, the fox and the hare dance!
Ghost harmonics are great fun for practicing support and a relaxed embouchure. Enjoy the bamboo-like sound while studying step 2. Try playing step 3 with relaxed embouchure as practiced in step 2. Start with the exercise.
I wanted to add another easy melody to the Flute Colors collection and have a little flute fun with it. I ended up with different versions. So now you can play this piece as a duet, trio, quartet or quintet. And if you don’t have a bass flute, you can just leave it out.
Spring has come and the sun will show more of itself. This Irish traditional is all about the rising sun. The flutter tongue gives a little bit of percussive feeling tot he piece. Good for practicing support and for relaxing the tongue.
The very first Flute Colors arrangement with bisbigliando trills and tremolo’s. They are not really difficult but give such a nice effect. True flute colors!
Check out Flute Colors Magazine!